Post-Game Notes: Ohio State
11/21/2015 12:00:00 AM | Football
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• With the 17-14 win over Ohio State (No. 2 Associated Press, No. 2 Coaches Poll, No. 3 College Football Playoff), Michigan State has recorded at least 10 wins five times in the last six seasons (11 in 2010, 11 in 2011, 13 in 2013, 11 in 2014). MSU improves to 10-1 on the season.
• Michigan State held Ohio State to five first downs and 132 yards of total offense (86 rushing, 46 passing). The Buckeyes had six three-and-outs. The 132 yards were the fewest by an Urban Meyer-coached team and the fewest allowed by MSU since Illinois had 128 yards on Oct. 26, 2013. It was also the fewest total yards for a Buckeye team since 1999 (79 vs. Michigan State). Ohio State entered the game ranked first in the Big Ten in scoring offense (36.4 points per game) and rushing offense (244.8 yards per game) and second in total offense (453.3 yards per game).
• Michigan State won its second game in a row over Ohio State at Ohio Stadium (10-7 win in 2011).
• Michigan State, which snapped Ohio State's school-record 24-game winning streak in the 2013 Big Ten Championship Game, ended the Buckeyes' 23- game winning streak on Saturday. MSU also ended Ohio State's NCAA FBS record of 30 consecutive regular-season conference victories, and it marked OSU's first regular-season Big Ten loss under Urban Meyer. Dantonio is 3-4 vs. Ohio State in his tenure at Michigan State.
• Michigan State held Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliott to 33 yards rushing on 12 carries; he entered the game with a streak of 15 consecutive games with more than 100 yards rushing.
• Michael Geiger kicked a 41-yard field goal on the game's final play to give MSU the 17-14 victory. It marked the second game-winning touchdown on the final play of the game for the Spartans this season (Jalen Watts-Jackson 38-yard fumble return at Michigan). It also marked the third time MSU has won a game under head coach Mark Dantonio on the final play of regulation (2011 vs. Wisconsin; 2015 vs. Michigan). It marked the first time MSU has won on a game-winning field goal on the last play of regulation since the 2000 Florida Citrus Bowl (Paul Edinger 39-yard field goal to defeat No. 10 Florida, 37-34).
• MSU held a dominant edge in the time of possession against the Buckeyes (38:10-21:50).
• Aaron Burbridge had a a game-high four catches for 62 yards. He now has 149 career receptions, which is tied for second in MSU history, along with Tony Lippett. Burbridge has 69 receptions on the season, fourth most in school history and just 10 away from the record (Devin Thomas and B.J. Cunningham with 79).
• Gerald Holmes led the Spartans in rushing for the third consecutive game with 65 yards on 14 carries; he had a 2-yard touchdown run at the 12:03 mark in the fourth quarter.
• Michigan State won its second game in a row over Ohio State at Ohio Stadium (10-7 win in 2011).
• Trevon Pendleton scored his third career touchdown on a 12-yard pass from Tyler O'Connor in the second quarter that tied the game at 7.
• Michigan State is 6-1 in its last seven games against Associated Press Top 10 teams. In addition, the Spartans are 5-1 against AP Top 10 teams since 2013. Michigan State has won eight of its last 10 games played against ranked opponents, including four straight (No. 4 Baylor in 2015 Cotton Bowl, No. 7 Oregon, No. 12 Michigan and No. 2 Ohio State this season). The win over the second-ranked Buckeyes matches the highest ranked opponent the Spartans have defeated under Dantonio (No. 2 Ohio State in 2013).
• Michigan State has won its last four games against an undefeated Ohio State team when playing the Buckeyes past Nov. 1 (defeated No. 1 OSU 16-13 on Nov. 9, 1974, in East Lansing; defeated No. 1 OSU 28-24 on Nov. 7, 1998, in Columbus; defeated No. 2 OSU 34-24 on Dec. 7, 2013, in Indianapolis; defeated No. 2 OSU 17-14 on Nov. 21, 2015).
• Michigan State is 26-10 in Big Ten road games under MSU head coach Mark Dantonio, including a 20-4 record since 2010. Dantonio has won at least one road game at every Big Ten stadium. The Spartans have won 11 of 13 November road games under Dantonio (only November road losses: Nov. 22, 2008 at No. 7 Penn State; Nov. 7, 2015 at Nebraska). Dantonio is 23-7 overall in games played in November.
• In his first career start, junior Tyler O'Connor completed 7-of-12 passes for 89 yards and one touchdown (12 yards to Trevon Pendleton in second quarter). O'Connor also rushed eight times for 25 yards. The 89 passing yards and 12 pass attempts were a career high, and the seven completions tied a career high (Youngstown State, 2013). MSU's last five first-time starters at QB have recorded wins: Kirk Cousins, Keith Nichol, Andrew Maxwell, Connor Cook & Tyler O'Connor. Michigan State's last 21 quarterbacks have compiled a 15-6 record (.714) in their first collegiate start.
• Montae Nicholson led the Spartans in tackles for the second game in a row with eight (nine vs. Maryland).
• MSU has won 63 of its last 78 games (63-15; .808), dating back to the beginning of the 2010 season. In addition, the Spartans have won 36 of their last 40 games, dating back to the 2012 regular-season finale. MSU has won 34 games since the beginning of 2013 (34-4 record), third most in the FBS during that period. During conference play, Michigan State has won 23 of its last 25 games against Big Ten opponents, dating back to the 2012 regular-season finale, including 17 wins by double-figures.
• The crowd of 108,975 was an Ohio Stadium record.
